Politics

HRT prescriptions now cheaper as cost of menopause treatment cut to less than £20 a year

HRT prescriptions now cheaper as cost of menopause treatment cut to less than £20 a year

A new scheme to cut the cost of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has come into force, reducing the price of menopause treatments to less than £20 a year.

The plan was announced by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in February, saying it would save around 400,000 women in England up to £205 annually.

Now women will be able to get the new HRT prescription prepayment certificate for £19.30 per year to access a list of eligible HRT items, including patches, tablets and topical preparations, whenever they need them.

About 15% of women aged 45 to 64 in England are currently prescribed HRT, according to DHSC figures.

The treatment can help relieve menopause and perimenopause symptoms, including hot flushes, night sweats, brain fog, joint pains, mood swings and vaginal dryness.

It can also reduce the risk of hormone-related health problems, such as osteoporosis and heart disease.

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Before the rollout, each prescription for HRT cost £9.35, or £18.70 if a woman needs two types of hormones, and the amount needed to be paid once a month or every three months.

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The new certificate can be accessed online or in some pharmacies and will mean women pay once to access treatments as many times as they need throughout the year.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Menopause care is essential healthcare, and we are ensuring cost is no longer a barrier to women getting the medicines they need.

“Better access to HRT will improve the lives of millions and gives women the freedom to take control of their symptoms.”

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‘An important first step’

The new scheme was welcomed by the women’s health ambassador for England, Professor Dame Lesley Regan, who said: “Many women do not realise that they are going through the menopause. Helping to make them aware about the inevitability of becoming menopausal, is an important first step.

“The next step is improving awareness that HRT may be an option to help women manage this stage of their life course .

“Making HRT easier to access will significantly improve the lives of many women who choose to use it, enabling them to reach their full potential.”